All-but-openly racist Mitt Romney surrogate John Sununu today suggested—after a rant about how President Obama's first term has been a disaster—decided to call Colin Powell an N-word-lover. Or at least come as close as possible:

"Frankly, when you take a look at Colin Powell, you have to wonder whether that's an endorsement based on issues or whether he's got a slightly different reason for preferring President Obama."

Er, frankly, when you take a look at the first 232 years of the American presidency and you take a look at the racial makeup of the men who won and you take a look at the racial makeup of the voting public, you have to wonder whether you're a fucking racist, Mr. Sununu.

The right loves when black people are Republican warmongers, as Powell has been. But in spite of Powell's Republicanism and all the water he carried for George W. Bush back in the day, he's now reduced to just a black guy voting for the black guy—any black guy.

"We've got two individuals; either one of them could be a good president. But which is the president that we need now? Which is the individual that serves the needs of the nation for the next period of time? And I've come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities, and you have to take that into account, as well as his substance—he has both style and substance—he has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president. I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into the, onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason, I will be voting for Senator Barack Obama."

—Colin Powell on Meet The Press, Sunday, October 19, 2008

I'm really pleased that Colin Powell has forcefully endorsed Barack Obama on Meet The Press just now. Amazingly, Powell hit McCain hard on his "unsure" approach to the economic crisis ("He didn't have a complete grasp of the problems we have") and even Sarah Palin ("I don't believe she's ready to be President of the United States," he said, judging McCain's selection of her harshly).

He called Obama "ready to be president on Day One" and praised him for "showing intellectual vigor." He thinks Obama is a uniter and hit McCain hard on "issues that are not really central" like Ayers. He even hit back on the robocalls. McCain has gone "too far," is "narrow" and is "not what the American people are looking for." He thinks the Republicans have moved even "further to the right."

He even hit back against the Republicans for the Muslim slurs, and the idea that being a Muslim is a slur.

"We have got to stop poloarizing...John McCain is as non-discriminatory as anyone I know," but Powell still blames him—forcefully—for all the ugliness coming from his campaign and from "within the party."

I mean...fuck, Powell threw the kitchen sink at McCain, even bringing up the military card. And he said all this with the voice of reason.

I dare the press not to focus on this for a news cycle in favor of Palin bouncing on SNL.

Oh, and Powell then EXCORIATED Michelle Bachmann for her "anti-American" tirade in his post-MTP presser. For a Republican who helped usher in the Iraq War, he's allllll riiiiight. (Today.) UPDATE: Here is that video:

What I hate is that his son works for John McCain, he just got through testifying on behalf of Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, he could have stopped the Iraq War but instead lied and helped Bush get us into it...and more to the immediate point, the sources who have leaked his impending endorsement are Republican.

Normally, this latter fact would mean the Republicans wanted to soften any "WOW!" factor to the endorsement by one of their own. But could this be a way of getting everyone to expect prObama and then double-surprise us with a McCain plug?

I'm going to go with my habit this election of not overthinking and stay hopeful that the most obvious answer is the answer and that he will indeed endorse. This is a boon for Obama even if I kinda hate Powell, and even if racists will snicker that Powell is just endorsing his 'own kind.' (I guess part of the reason I don't see it as a trick is by raising that expectation only to have him endorse McCain, it would only heighten any resulting feelings that he is some kind of traitor among black voters. The politics of race are so delicate, it's a wonder Obama has come this far.)

On the plus side, here is how he spoke of Barack in January of this year. Seems pretty laudatory:

Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama is now just a matter of timing. I think when he does endorse, he might use strong language that bolsters Obama as being more right on national security. It would be nice if he would endorse Barack the day of the first debate (this Friday), which is themed to national security. Or Obama might want to wait and have him do it after on the chance that his performance is judged to have been poor or so-so: